3 survey respondents
Location: 140 E 62nd St, New York, 10065 NY
EIN: 13-1879954
33%
67%
100 hours
Median
0%
100%
50%
50%
2017 Deadlines:
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Average Grant:
Grant Applicant - applied in 2024
Mellon likes to write nice essays on its website. They get excited to announce programs and guidelines that ultimately don't align with some of the realities of the community served. The application, although somewhat streamlined, has cumbersome requirements that increase the time and labor required to fill it out. There is a disconnect between the needs of the applicant and what Mellon requires. I expect better from a foundation of this size. Good luck finding contact information for specific personnel. It has staff in strategy that have not worked outside of private foundations or in the communities served.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Difficult to work with, Culturally incompetent, Bureaucratic
Illinois
Grant currently pending
2024
Bad
Good luck contacting anyone.
Average
The foundation is disconnected.
Leave the ivory tower. Start listening to the community. Hire from the community served. Hire from outside of the foundation world. Start listening to panelists on your webinars that point out your own disconnect. As an invite-only funder, you are missing key nonprofit players who are doing the work and it's hurting the communities you intend to serve.
It seems to follow an old model of philanthropy.
It has a lovely website and raises visibility of issues, even if not done with a deep engagement with the communities impacted. Otherwise, I don't know.
15
Reviewer 350 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2015
There is no public, open application.
Friendly, Builds relationships
Ohio
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2015
Bad
Average
More transparency in your grantmaking would be appreciated and more respectful.
There have been some leadership changes in the last couple years. How that will affect grantmaking still remains to be seen.
Generosity and continuity of support once you're 'in.'
120
Reviewer 441 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
These folks are pretty sure that they are experts in everything and will take a lot of your time. Yes, you have the potential for very large funding, but I truly encourage you to think hard about whether the investment of time and effort (hope and energy too!) is worth it.
Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Difficult to work with, Culturally incompetent, Bureaucratic
Pennsylvania
Current or former grantee
Other
2016
Bad
Do you know the right person to talk to? No, then too bad.
Average
The portfolio is so large, I cannot tell.
Don't provide false hope by stringing potential applicants along. Don't use nonprofits in the field to simply learn what's happening on the ground, without supporting them.
So many meetings and conversations, never yielding an invitation. Very unclear about goals or what might happen. Very frustrating! Spent lots of time and in the end were not invited to apply. Felt used and manipulated by and through the process.
I cannot think of anything.
100
